NBA Roundup: Portland regains spark, Utah searches for stops, Minnesota rues closing woes
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PORTLAND, Ore. — A voice from the sideline helped the Trail Blazers snap out of a skid Monday night. While recovering from the torn Achilles he sustained last postseason, Damian Lillard has taken on an in-house mentoring role, urging teammates to “march forward and up” after dropping seven of nine. The message landed as Portland defeated Milwaukee, delivering what coach Chauncey Billups called one of the club’s most complete performances of the season.
Jazz defense wilts without Kessler
SALT LAKE CITY — Since Walker Kessler was lost for the year to a shoulder injury, Utah has surrendered at least 130 points in six of nine outings. Jusuf Nurkic is cleaning the glass as the new starting center, but the 7-footer has never been known as a rim protector. At 37, Kevin Love anchors the second unit, and the only other alternative is sliding power forwards into the five spot. The Jazz continue to shoot effectively, yet their identity fades quickly without Kessler patrolling the paint.
Timberwolves let leads slip away
MINNEAPOLIS — Two games, two sudden stumbles. On Saturday in Phoenix, Minnesota squandered a nine-point cushion with 50 seconds left. Two nights later against Sacramento, a 10-point advantage vanished in the final three minutes before the Kings prevailed in overtime. Center Rudy Gobert said the back-to-back collapses should serve as a lesson: “We still have an amazing opportunity ahead of us, but we have to decide who we want to be.” The Timberwolves’ ceiling remains high, though their late-game habits require immediate repair.
Source: Hoops Wire
